Published on June 24, 1993, The Commercial Appeal
THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL
SLAYING SUSPECTS ASKED FOR SAMPLES
By: Bartholomew Sullivan
Prosecutors have told attorneys representing three teenagers charged with murdering three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis that they want samples of the suspects' blood, hair and saliva.
Paragould, Ark., attorney Daniel T. Stidham, representing defendant Jessie Lloyd Misskelley Jr., said he is researching his response to the request.
Also Wednesday, the lead detective in the case said police did not use the estimated $32,000 in cash and pledges sent to the Crittenden County Crimestoppers program to help generate leads in the case. West Memphis Police Inspector Gary Gitchell, program coordinator, said no one came forward with information that would make them eligible for a reward.
Prosecutors' request for the blood, hair and saliva samples from the defendants has some legal footing. Stidham acknowledged Arkansas rules of criminal procedure allow the state access to such samples but said his client still may have a legal basis for denying the request.
Michael Wayne Echols, 18; Charles Jason Baldwin, 16; and Misskelley, 17, are charged with the May 5 murders of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore.
All three defendants are being held without bond at undisclosed locations. Their lawyers have said all three plan not guilty pleas.
Defense lawyers have 10 days to respond to the request for samples, Stidham said. Prosecutors could not be reached Wednesday.
The reward fund drew donations from 73 people and Gitchell said he was sending letters to each donor.
The largest single contributions totaled $5,000, including one from Warehouse Foods Inc., Gitchell said. The company's Little Rock parent company has asked for the money back, said manager Louie Glover.
THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL
SLAYING SUSPECTS ASKED FOR SAMPLES
By: Bartholomew Sullivan
Prosecutors have told attorneys representing three teenagers charged with murdering three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis that they want samples of the suspects' blood, hair and saliva.
Paragould, Ark., attorney Daniel T. Stidham, representing defendant Jessie Lloyd Misskelley Jr., said he is researching his response to the request.
Also Wednesday, the lead detective in the case said police did not use the estimated $32,000 in cash and pledges sent to the Crittenden County Crimestoppers program to help generate leads in the case. West Memphis Police Inspector Gary Gitchell, program coordinator, said no one came forward with information that would make them eligible for a reward.
Prosecutors' request for the blood, hair and saliva samples from the defendants has some legal footing. Stidham acknowledged Arkansas rules of criminal procedure allow the state access to such samples but said his client still may have a legal basis for denying the request.
Michael Wayne Echols, 18; Charles Jason Baldwin, 16; and Misskelley, 17, are charged with the May 5 murders of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore.
All three defendants are being held without bond at undisclosed locations. Their lawyers have said all three plan not guilty pleas.
Defense lawyers have 10 days to respond to the request for samples, Stidham said. Prosecutors could not be reached Wednesday.
The reward fund drew donations from 73 people and Gitchell said he was sending letters to each donor.
The largest single contributions totaled $5,000, including one from Warehouse Foods Inc., Gitchell said. The company's Little Rock parent company has asked for the money back, said manager Louie Glover.
